Missed chances in the first half came back to haunt Mariners as Fire Service romped to a comfortable victory in this FA Challenge Cup preliminary round match at PHC Stadium yesterday.

It would have been a much different story had Mariners capitalised on some of their first half opportunities, which began with a wasted free header from captain Craig Dixon after just nine minutes.

Mariners, despite their early dominance, had to wait until the 46th minute to take the lead through Michael Bean.

However, within minutes things began to go wrong as Richard Correia was sent off for pulling back Troy Furbert inside the penalty area. The resulting spot kick from Wendell Simmons tied it up at 1-1 and within three minutes Fire Service went ahead when Simmons laid off the ball to Furbert in the area and his left foot shot found the far bottom corner.

Fire Service, their confidence boosted, scored two more goals in three minutes in the 69th and 72nd to put the game out of reach. Furbert made it 3-1 from a corner on the left and then Stephen Caines, a first half substitute, added the fourth from an acute angle inside the box.

Joe Barbosa pulled one back for Mariners in the 86th minute when he scored from a free kick on the edge of the box, but it was too little, too late.

S.Wheel 0 St. George's 2 Goals in the second half by Delbert Minors and Jan Cieters settled this cup matc at PHC Stadium.

St. George's All-Stars' defence did a good job of keeping Spinning Wheel's Des Minors -- scorer of hat-tricks in his last two games -- quiet up front.

Both teams showed plenty of enthusiasm in a scoreless first half which saw Sinclair Smith go close for St. George's with an eighth minute header that Ty Williams turned away.

Spinning Wheel had one of their better chances in the 18th minute when Youssef Boucetta went close with a far post header that brought off a good reflex save from goalkeeper David Brangman.

Wendell Simons hit the post with a header from a corner early in the second half, just minutes before All-Stars broke the deadlock in the 58th minute.

Fred Curtis drove in a low, hard cross from the left and Sinclair Smith went down from a challenge from Stevie Tucker as he tried to reach the ball. Minors planted the penalty past Williams.

Spinning Wheel brought on goalkeeper Ed (Beaver) Burrows and switched Williams into attack for the final 10 minutes in a bid for the equaliser. But it was All-Stars who scored a minute from the end when Cieters scored from close range at the second attempt after a cross from the right.

Forties 1 Prison Officers 0 Forties completely dominated this match at White Hill Field but had only Steve Garratt's ninth-minute header to show for it.

Garratt nodded home a looping effort as Forties took control from the off, but finishing that was wasteful in the extreme always meant Prison Officers, who seemed to lack a midfield throughout, might snatch an underserved draw.

Clear-cut chances came and went with alarming regularity, Jeffrey Ingleman and Cooley Robinson just two of those who should have done better in front of goal. And Prison Officers had their hearts in their mouths when goalkeeper Dwayne Bean mis-controlled a back pass which nearly allowed Robinson in.

The game deteriorated badly in the second half, although Erskine Swan's mazy dribble through the Forties defence deserved a better finish. At the other end, Bean dived at Kent Bascombe's boots when he was through and Brett Michaelson hit the post.

Forties threw on a couple of substitutes up front to give themselves more of a cutting edge, but they did no better than their predecessors, Derek Thomas and Mike Williams both missing gilt-edged opportunities.

Lobster Pot 3 MR Onions 1 Three first half goals at a windy White Hill secured a place in the next round of the FA Cup for Lobster Pot and effectively ended this match as a contest.

Tony Smith stabbed home the first from close range after 20 minutes, Bill Spencer beat an Onions defender before rounding the 'keeper for the second five minutes later and Chris Eaton finished off a good move five minutes from half-time.

Lobster Pot continued to dominate proceedings after the interval, the only surprise being that they couldn't add to their score. And eight minutes from time it was Onions who got on the scoresheet when Chris Fleming blasted home from seven yards after keeper Simon Kilpatrick mis-read a corner.

Kilpatrick later redeemed himself as Onions staged a late rally but it was Lobster Pot who came closest to netting again when a misdirected defensive header put Andy McDulloch in the clear but his shot was beaten away by Onions 'keeper Andy Jekyl.

Exiles 3 Belco 1 Two goals by Antoine Cannonier in the second half broke a first half deadlock and sealed victory for Exiles at St. John's Field.

The teams were level at half-time with Derek Young opening the scoring in the seventh minute for Exiles and Mitchell Raynor replying for Belco after 36 minutes.

However, Cannonier settled the tie with goals in the 72nd and 82nd minutes.

Island Rangers advanced in the second match at St. John's Field, beating Bermuda Pest Control 6-0 in the biggest win of the day.